Machine for opening envelops.



E. A. BIRCHER.

MACHINE FOR OPENING ENVELOPS. APPLICATIIONAHLED ms. 2, I912.

l fimfi Wm Patented July 23, 1918.

3 SHEETS--SHEET I.

E. A. BIRCHER.

MACHINE FOR OPENING ENVELOPS.

'APPLICATIGN FILED 558.2.1912.

tentedl July 23, 11918.x

\ 3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

E. A. BIRCHER.

MACHINE FOR OPENING ENVELOPS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2. 1912.

Patentedi July 23, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- prrn sane rnur ouurbu.

EUGENE A. BIRCHER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE BIRCHEJR, CO.INC.,

OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CURPOQRATION 613 NEW YORK.

MACHINE OPENING ENVELOPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented duly 23, llhlS.

Application filed February 2, 1912. Serial No. 675,011.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE A. BInor-rnn, a citizen of the United States,residing at llochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines forOpening Envelops, of which the follow ing is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a machine for openingenvelops such as are ordinarily used in mailing letters, the machinebeing constructed to open the envelop by cutting off a small portiontherefrom along any edge of the envelop.

Another object of my invention is to provide the machine with a pair offeed rolls which are used to feed the envelop, one of which feed rollsis positively driven.

Another object of my invention is to provide a rotary cutter with whichthe envelops are cut.

Another object'of my invention is to ad- 11 st the feeding mechanism sothat the edge on which the cut is intended to be made will be held inline with the cutting mechanism of the machine as the envelop passesthrough the machine.

Another object of my invention is to so construct the machine that itmay be power driven, and the machine is preferably so designed as tocontain therein an electric motor by which it may be driven. 7 i

These and other objects of .my invention will be fully illustrated inthe drawings,

described in the specification and pointed out in the claims at the endthereof.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the machinewith the cover or asing therefor removed.

2 is an elevation of the side of the machine that is at the left in Fig. 1.

Fig. is a perspective view of the machine complete with its casing.

Fig. 4% is an end elevation of the machine looking at it from the bottomof Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5* 5* of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the table, guide flange, casing and armviewed from the right of Fig. 3, the table and casing being partlybroken away.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the rnachine and easing with the table,guide flange and upper roller and mountings therefor removed.

1111 the several. drawings, like reference characters indicate likeparts.

ll ly improved machine is built preferably upon a base 1, upon which aremounted the uprights or brackets 2 and 3, which preferably are formed ina single casting, as illustrated in Fig. 4, they being connectedtogether by the cross brace a at the bottom and the cross brace 4 at thetop.

Mounted to rotate in these brackets is the shaft 5 having the worm gear6 thereon which is driven by .a worm '7 carried on theshaft 8 of theelectric motor 9 or equivalent power device by which the operatingmechanism is driven. Keyed to this shaft within thebracket at one end isthe grooved belt driving pulley 10 and at the other end the gear wheel11. On the outside of the bracket at the. left, asshown in Fig. 4t, isthe lower cutting wheel 12 which forms the ledger blade of thecutting-device. Between this wheel and the upright bracket 2 is Mountedin the top of the uprights 2 and 3 is the shaft 15 having the gear 16thereon which meshes with the gear 11 and is positively driven thereby.

Keyed to the shaft 15 outside of the support 2 is the disk 17. Mountedon the shaft outside of this disk is the disk cutter 18.-

This disk cutter is clamped to the shaft 15 by the nut 19, the end ofthe shaft being threaded to receive it.

The right hand end of the shaft 15 is bored out as shown in Fig. 5, toreceive a pressure pin 20, which pin is pressed out by the compressionspring 21 against the end plate 22. The spring presses against the shaft15 in the other direction. and moves it to the left and holds the cutter18 firmly against the lower cutting wheel 12. -'.lhe gears 11 and 16compel the cutting blade 18 and cutting wheel 12 to rotate together. Thegearing is proportioned so as to drive the cutting blade 18 with aperipheral velocity slightly greater than that of the cut ting wheel 12.

The cutting blade 18 is provided with a beveled edge which bears againstthe edge of the lower cutting wheel 12, both of the wheels 18 and 12being undercut as shown in cross sectionin Fig. 5, so that they willgrind against each other and be self sharpening. The spring 21 holdsthem yieldingly in contact so as to maintain good uniform cutting andsharpening effect.

Also provided on the base plate 1 are the lugs 24 and 25, between which18 supported the shaft 26 on which is mounted the bell crank 27 Thisbell crank at its upper end is provided with a bearing 28 integraltherewith, through which passes the shaft 29. This shaft has the groovedbelt pulley keyed to one end thereof and the soft friction roller 31keyed to the other end thereof. A belt 32 is used to drive the pulley 30from the aulley 10. The shaft 29 is placed at a slig t angle to theshafts 5 and 15, as will appear in Fig. 1. The lower arm of the bellcrank 27 is provided with a reduced end-33 which is surrounded by thecompression spring 34 whichbears against the platel at the other end,tending to rotate the bell crank to the left at the top, and keeping thebelt 32 taut, as shown in Fig. 2.

Mounted on the base are the fuse block 35, the switch 36 and theinsulating bushing 37 through which the electrical connections are madeto the motor 9.

I provide the machine with the cover 38 which is fastened to the base inany suitable manner. This cover is provided with the opening 38 whichisclosed by the table In this table is the opening 40 through which theroller 31 projects. Pivotally mounted on the cover is the arm 41 whichcarries at its end thepin 42 on which is mounted to rotate the roller43, which roller normally rests against the roller 31, being held incontact therewith by the torsion of the spring 44 bearing on the arm 41.The arm 41 is so shaped as to act as a guard or housing for the knife 18which rotates inside of it. By increasing the weight of this guard thefrictional efiect of the wheel 43 is increased. The rollers 31 and 43are made of a wooden core, with a rim of rubber thereon. See Figs. 2 and3.

The table 39 is mounted on the cover 38 so that the crease in the angleof the able comes slightly out of line with the cutting edges butparallel thereto, being substantially in line with the left hand side ofthe disk 17 as it appears in Figs. 4 and 5. This difierence in alinementbetween the crease of the cutting table and the cutting edges of thecutters determines with certain limits the depth of the cut which thecutters make along the edge of the envelop. The table 39 is clamped tothe cover 38 by the screw 45 which appears indotted lines under the arm41 in Fig. 3. The crease of the table can be adjusted toward and awayfrom the line of the cutters in any suitable manner, as by placing awasher around the screw 45 and between the table 39 and the cover 38.The adjustment can also be made by inserting a washer of suitablethickness between. the cutter 18 and the disk 17, in which case thetable will remain stationary and the position of the cutter will bechanged with reference thereto.

It is apparent from the foregoing that when the upper cutter isadjustable outwardly, the lower cutter must be adjusted outwardly aswell. On the right of the lower cutter 12 is shown a shoulder or collaron the shaft 5. Against this shoulder the lower cutter is clamped by anut (see Fig. 2), the end of the shaft being threaded to receive thisnut. In this respect the lower cutter shaft is like the upper one. Whenthe upper cutter is adjusted outwardly by putting the washer behind it,the nut that clamps the lower cutter on the shaft must be loosened upand possibly a washer should be inserted between the lower cutter andthe shoulder on the shaft.

It is apparent from the foregoing that when the upper cutter isadjustable outwardly, the lower cutter must be adjusted outwardly aswell. On the right of the lower cutter 12 is shown a shoulder or collaron the shaft 5. Against this shoulder the lower cutter is'clamped by anut (see Fig. 2), the end of the shaft being threaded to receive thisnut. In this respect the lower cutter shaft is like the upper one. Whenthe upper cutter is adjusted outwardly by putting the washer bchind it,the nut that clamps the lower cutter on the shaft must be loosened upand possibly a washer should be inserted between the lower cutter andthe shoulder on the shaft.

The pin or shaft 29 which supports the roller 31 is slightly out ofparallel with the shafts 15 and 5, as has been above mentioned, and thepin 42 which supports the roller 13 is still more out of parallel, sothat the rollers between which the envelops are fed not only tend todrive the envelops forward. but also to move them sidewise against theupright flange of the table 39, so that the envelops will be fed forwardparallel to and in line with the cutting edges, so that the cuttingedges will cut a thin shaving of about a thirty-second of an inch fromthe edge of the envelop that passes between them.

It will be noticed that the upper roller i l which revolves idly and isout of parallel with the roller 31 and is driven by frictionalengagement therewith or with the envelop passing through the rollerswill not revolve with the same peripheral speed as does the lowerrollers. This will cause the envelop to drag between the two rollers.That is, the envelop will move slower than the under roller and fasterthan thcupperroller and will advance more slowly than the cuttersthemselves would advance if the rollers were absent. Between therotating cutters tending to pull the envelop forward at one end and therollers 81 and 4:3 tending to retard the envelop at the other end, theportion of the envelop between the rollers and cutters is kept in astate of slight tension.

it will he also noted that both of the feed rolls are narrow compared tothe width of the envelops driven thereby and that they are placed closeto the guide flange and almost in line with the cutters.

The feed rolls 31 and 43 not only perform the function of alining theenvelope with the guide flange and feeding them through the machine tothe cutters, but also in connection with the guide flange perform thefunction of separating the edge of the envelop from the contents so thatthe inner edge of the envelop or the edge of the envelop against theguide flange will be presented to the cutters free of the contents. Thisresult is accomplished as follows:

The lower roll 31 extends above the feed table and lifts the envelopslightly above the table. The two feed rolls not only push the envelopsidewise against the guide flange but in conjunction with the guideflange, cause both the bottom and top of that part of the envelop thatis between the rollers and the guide flange to bulge or become di torteddue to the side thrust of the rollers on the envelop and the flexibilityof the envelop. This side thrust is but imperfectly communicated to thecontents of the envelop due to the fact that the envelop acts as awasher between the rollers and the contents. The immunity of thecontents from this distortion is further assisted by the lack ofadhesion between the envelop and its contents and the stiffness of thecontents, the effect being greatest where the envelop is flexible andthe contents are stiff. This budging ef fect of the rollers and guideflange on the envelop is produced on both the bottom and the top of theenvelop because both the upper and lower rollers are set at an angle tothe line of feed as determined by the guide flange. the part of theenvelop that has been lrilged by the rollers leaves therollers it tendsto resume its normal shape and flab.

ten out somewhat tending to draw the contents back away from thecutters.

The edge of the envelop, as it reaches the open space in the guideflange occupied by the cutters, moves sidewise due to the furtherexpansion of the envelop insuring or increasing the engagement of theenvelop with the edges of the cutters as the envelop moves forward.After the engagement of the envelop and cutters has taken place thedraft of the cutters tends to pull the edge of the envelop further Intothe cutters 1ncreasing the width of the strip cut thereby and furtherflattening out the envelop, the contents of the envelop being at alltimes kept free from the cutters.

it will also be noticed from an inspection of Fig. 3 that the meetingedges of the feeding rollers 31 and 4-3 are slightly above the table andthe meeting edges of the cutters 12 and 18 are considerably above thetable so that by the lower cutter the inner edge of the envelop isflared upwardly somewhat and some additional room is thus given in whichthe bulged portion of the envelop can expand permitting the sides tocome together and resume their normal condition independently of thecontents of the envelop. This flaring of the envelop is believed tocontribute slightly to the beneficial. result of separating the edge ofthe envelop from its contents and cutting the one without cutting theother, which result is secured primarily,

first by the distortion of the envelop by the rollers, theedge of theenvelop being subsequently forced forward into the cutters by its ownelasticity, the contents being rcstrained. from this forward movement oracto ally moved back away from the cutters.

The theory of operation by which this TO". sult is secured has beenexplained as it is now understood. The explanation may be imperfect,incomplete or even erroneous, but of the effect of the machine inseparating the edge of the envelop from its contents and the cutting ofthe one and'not the other, there can be no doubt as this has been repeatedly demonstrated by the operation of the machine.

The width of the strip cut from the side of the envelop variesapproximately from .01 to .05 of an inch in width, depending on thesetting of the guide flange with. reference to the cutters and thecharacter of the envelop to be cut and contents, so that the movement ofthe contents back from the cu ters and the movement of the envelop intothe cutters is comparatively small but is sufficient to protect the oneand insure the sole cutting of the other. Tn this way the con-' tents ofthe envelop are protected. against being out while the edge aloneexposed to the cutters.

lit has been noticed that when envelops are passed through the machinethe contents of the envelope are moved back from the edge of theenvelope more or less, smnetimes evenly and sometimes considerably moreat one end than at the other end whether the cutters are present or havebeen removed. in the one case the edge of each of the envelops will becut and in the other case it will not he cut. "While the contents of thdenvelop may, at the start, have been close against the inner edge of theenvelop, after they have been passed through the machine thecontcntsjwill have been moved back from the inner edge of the envelop,sometimes retaining their parallel alinement with the edge of theenvelop and sometimes being moved back much more at one end than at theother.

It will be understood that the contents of the envelop are always heldback from the guide'flange by the edge of the envelop a distance equalto the thickness of the paper 011 the edge of the envelop plus whateverresistance the stock of the envelop creased at the edge of the envelopmay olfer to the contents of the envelop approaching the edge thereof.The bulging of the en velop" and the'subsequent flattening thereof orthe subsequent flaring or bringing of the sides of the envelop togetherstill further separates the edge of the envelop from the contents andgives the cutters ample room to cut on the edge of the envelop withoutcutting the contents.

The operation of my machine is as follows: The motor is started, causingthe cutting edges to rotate, the upper cutting edge rotating slightlyfaster'than the lower one, with the feed roller 31 rotating at aperipheral velocity substantially the same as the peripheral velocity ofthe cutting wheel 12. The envelops are placed upon the table 39 near theflanged side of it and are passed between the rollers 31 and 48 whichimmediately press the envelops against the flanged side of the table anddraw them for ward against the cutters, which in turn draw the envelopforward, cutting off the edge of the envelop therefrom.

By means of the feed rollers and the cutters which rotate at aconsiderable velocity, envelops are passed through the machine and cutopen with great rapidity, the capacity of the machine being about fourhundred six-inch envelops per minute.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim'as new and patentableis as follows:

1. In a machinefor cutting envelops, the combination of a feed tablehaving a flange thereon, a pair of circular cutting knives rotatingagainst each other through said table, a disk placed back of one of saidcutting knives and substantially in line with the flange on the table.

2. In a machine for cutting envelops, the combination of a feed tablehaving a flange thereon, a pair of circular cutting knives rotatingagainst each other through said table, a disk placed back of one of saidcutting knivesand substantially in line with the flange on the table,said cutting knife being adjustable toward and away from said disk.

3. In a machine for opening envelops, the combination of a pair ofcutting disks mounted to rotate against each other, means for' yieldmglypressing one of said disks laterally against the other, gearing topositively drive one of said cutters from the other with unequalperipheral velocity, at table havinga guide flange placed parallel toand out of line with said cutters, a roller having its axis mounted atan angle to the axes of said cutters and working in connection with saidtable and guide flange to feed an edge of the envelop forward to saidcutters.

4c. In a cutting machine, the combination of a table, a pair of diskcutters working against each other through said table, a pair of rollersmounted at diiferent angles to the axes of said cutters and normallybearing against each other to move the material sidewise and forward tosaid cutters.

5. In a machine for opening envelops, the combination of a table havinga guide flange thereon, a roller mounted on the swinging axis movabletoward and away from said table, the axis of said roller beingsubstantially parallel to the plane of the table and being placed at anacute angle to the flange on the table.

6. I11 a machine for cutting envelops, the combination, withcutting-mechan ism adapted to feed an envelop during the cuttingoperation, of a guide for controlling the envelop during the cuttingoperation, and means for producing a dragging action on the envelop atone side of the cuttingline in order to hold the envelop against theguide.

7. In a machine, for opening envelops, the combination, withcutting-mechanism adapted to feed an envelop during the cuttingoperation, of a guide for controlling the envelop during the cuttingoperation, and means for producing a dragging action on the envelop atone side of the cuttingline in order to hold the envelop against theguide.

8. In a machine for opening envelops, the combination, with a pair ofrotary cutters adapted to feed an envelop during the cut ting operation,one of which has a greater peripheral speed than the other, said cuttersrotating in the direction of feed of an en- Velop through the machine,of a guide for controlling the envelop during the cutting operation, andmeans for producing a dragging action on the envelop at one side of thecutting-line in order to hold the envelop against the guide.

9. In a machine for opening envelops, the combination, withcutting-mechanism operating in a direction to feed an envelop throughthe machine, of a guide for corn trolling the envelop during the cuttingoperation, and a roller frictionally engaging and rotatable by theenvelop and ope ating in a plane at an angle to, and at one side of, thecutting-line of the cutting-mechanism, so as to produce a draggingaction till int/acre upon the envelopin order to hold the eni tersadapted tofeed an envelop during the cutting operation, and means forrotating the cutters in such a direction that their effective cuttingportions move in the direction of the line of feed through the machine,of a guide for controllin an envelop during the cutting operation, and aroller fric tionally engaging and rotatable by the envelop, the rollerbeing located in a position to engage the envelopat one side of thecutting-line, and being journalod in a plane at acute angle to thecutting-line so as to produce a dragging action on the envelop.

11. In an envelop-opening machine, the combination, withcutting-mechanism tending to move an envelop in the direction of feedthrough the machine, of a guide for controlling theenvelopduring thecutting operation, and means adapted to advance the envelop intoengagement with the cuttingmechanism and thereafter to produce adragging action on the envelop at one side of the cutting-line, in orderto hold the envelop against the guide.

12. In an envelop-opening machine, the combimition, withcutting-mechanisni tending to feed an envelop through the machine, of aguide for controlling the envelop during the cutting operation, feedingmechanism comprising a roller adapted to be driven positively and adevice engaging the envelop oppositely thereto, the latter producing adragging action upon the envelop at one side of the cutting-line, inorder to hold the envelop against the guide, and means for rotating thefeed-roller in a direction to advance the envelop toward the en ttinganech ani sm.

13. In a machine for opening envelope, the combination, withcutting-mechanisin tending to feed an envelop through the ma chine andembodying a pair ofrotary shearing-cutters, and means for rotating thecut ters in the direction in which their effective cutting portions movein the direction of feed of an envelop through the machine, of a guidefor controlling an envelop dur ng the cutting operation, feedingmechanism comprising a member adapted to be driven positively andfrict1onally engaging the envelop, and adevice engaging the envelopoppositely thereto, the latter producing a dragging eficct on theenvelopat one side of the cutting-line, in order to hold the envelop againstthe guide, and means for Jactnating the feed-member, in the general.direction of feed, at theasame linear speed as the speed of theeffective portion of one ofthe rotary cutters;- 1 a a l l, ][n a machinefor opening envelope,

the combination, with cuttirig-mechanism operating in a direction tofeed an envelop through the machine, of a guide for controlling theenvelop during the cutting operation, a roller having its axis mountedat an angle to the axis of said cutters, adapted to feed the envelop tosaid cutters, means for rotating said roller, and a freely rotatableroller journaled to rotate in a plane at an angle to and at one side ofthe cutting mechanism.

15.,lln a machine for opening); envelops, the combination of a tablehaving a guide flange thereon, revolving means operating in connectionwith said tableclt'or feeding envelops along said table andlaterallyagainst said flange, cutters operating in connection with said feedingmechanism, said cutters operating to draw an envelop forward faster thansaid feeding mechanism operates to feed. it. y

16. In a machine for opening envelope,

the COHlhinatiOIl of a table having a guide flange thereon, rotarycutters working through said table and adjacent to said guide flange,narrow rollers arranged above and below said table in a pair and placedadjacent to said guide flange and nearly inline with said cutters, saidrollers operating to feed envelops forward to said cutters and sidewiseagainst the guide flange, said outters operating to feed an envelopforward when engaged therewith, said rollers operat ing to retard theforward movement of the envelop due to the cutters.

17. lin a machine for opening envelope, the combination of a tablehaving a guide flange thereon, rotating cutters arranged in a pair, oneabove and the other below the table, said cutters working-through saidtable and adjacent tosaid guide flange, a positively driven rotatingfeeding device for feeding envelope along said table, comprising apositively driven member having" substantially the sameperipheral speedas one of the cutters and less peripheralspeed than the other cutter,and an idly driven rotating roller coilperating with the first-mcntionedmember to feed the envelope forward along the table and sidewise againstthe guide flange.

18. In a machine for cutting envelope, the con'ibination of a feed tablehaving a flan thereon, a pair of circular cutting knives rotatingagainst each other through said tahle, said flange serving to holdenvelope in line with said knives, a positively driven roller placed insaid table with its axis at an angle to the ardent said cutters and asecond roller yieldingly mountedand making contact with said first namedroller, said second roller also having its axis at an angle to the axesof said cutters, said rollers beadapted to feed the envelope between tem;

lltlll 19. In a machine for opening envelops, the combination of a base,a pair of uprights .mounted thereon, a pair of shafts mounted to rotatein said uprights, a rotary cutter mounted on the end of each of saidshafts,

means for pressing one of said shafts longitudinally so as to cause oneof said cutters to bear against the other, a cover for said machine,said cover having the top and sides 10 cut away to form an opening withan angular seat in said cover surrounding said opening, a table with aguide flange thereon, adapted to close said opening, said table be ingadjustable laterally on said seat. 20. In a machine for openingenvelops, the combination of a base, a pair of uprights mounted thereon,a pair of shafts mounted to rotate in said uprights, a rotary cuttermounted on the end of each of said shafts, means for pressing one ofsaid shafts longitudinally so as to cause one of said cutters to bearagainst the other, a cover for said machine, said cover having the topand sides cut away to form an opening with an angular seat in said coversurrounding said opening, said cutters projecting into said opening, atable with a guide flange thereon, adapted to close said opening, andhaving openings therein to receive said cutters, said flange beingnormally parallel to the edges of said cutters, said table beingadjustable on said seat laterally of said cutters.

A 21. In a machine for opening envelops, the combination with a cuttingmechanism embodying a pair of rotary cutters having their effectivecutting portions traveling in the direction of the line of feed throughthe machine, of a guide for controlling the envelops during the cuttingoperations, and a freely rotating roller arranged tocooperate With theenvelops to one side'of the cutting line and operating in a plane at anacute angle to the cutting line in order to produce a dragging action onthe envelop.

4'5 22. In a machine for opening envelops, the

combination with a cutting mechanism embodying a pair of rotary cuttershaving their effective cutting portions traveling in 'the direction ofthe line of feed through the machine, of a guide for controlling the envelops during the cutting operation, means for producing a draggingaction on the envelops to one side of the cutting line inorder to holdthe envelops against the guide, and

. a rotary feed member cooperating with the drag producing means tocarry the envelope to the cutting mechanism, said feed member having itseffective portion traveling at the same speed as the effective portionof one of 1, the cutters of the cutting mechanism.

23. The method ofopeningenvelops which consists in gripping the same atits upper and lower surfaces, applying pressure to the edge sufficientto bulge the envelop and slide the contents laterally within the same,releasing the edge pressure and allowing the edge to expand away fromthe contents and finally cutting a narrow strip from the edge of theenvelop thus separated from its inclosure.

24. An envelop opening machine comprising a cutting device, an edge gagearranged slightly beyond the cutting plane, means for gripping andfeeding the envelop longitudinally and laterally against the gage with 7sufficient pressure tobulge the envelop while permitting the contents toslip laterally, the feeding devices being so located as to permitexpansion of the envelop before it reaches the cutter. 0

2. An envelop opening machine comprising a cutting device, an edge gagearranged slightly beyond the cutting plane, a pair of feeding rollshaving axes inclined to the line of feed and gripping the upper andlower surfaces of the envelop with such pressure as to bulge the edge ofthe envelop at its contact with the gage while permitting the contentsto slip within the envelop, said feed rolls being so located as topermit the lateral pressure to be released before the envelop reachesthe cutter, so that it may spring away from the contents and present anedge for trimming without danger of injuring the inclosure.

26. In an envelop opening machine, the combination with a guide, offeeding and deflecting mechanism which acts on the envelops to move themlaterally toward the guide and also along the latter, said mcchanismpinching the outside wrappers to cause them to bulge on their contents,means permitting the bulged portion to spread out at a certain point inthe travel of the envelop free from the contents, and a cuttingmcchanism for operating on the edge of the envelop after it has beenthus spread or flattened.

27. A machine for opening envelops com prising a cutting mechanism,mechanism for feeding the envelops to the cutting mechanism and forbulging the envelops along one of their edges on their contents andmeans for causing portions of the bulged portions to be presented to thecutting mechanism free from the contents of the envelops.

In testimony whereof I a'flix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EUGENE A. BIB-CHER.

IVitnesses:

LENA Asrr, Amen M. JOI-IANNA.

hcopies qt this patent may be obtained for zfive cents each, byaddressing the bommissioner of Patcntt.

Washington, H. 93

